You live together, dine together, and will spend the rest of your lives together, yet sleeping together poses a number of issues each night. You may be made for each other but your sleeping styles clash. To ensure a restful night’s sleep, rest your eyes on the following tips.
Buy a Big Bed
Your partner may toss, turn, and twist throughout the night. They have no idea what they’re doing, being half asleep, but you’re more than aware and awake. Sometimes the best thing to do is to create more distance between your bodies, and buying a big bed is one solution. The larger the mattress, the less likely you will influence each other’s sleep. If you have a small bedroom, it may mean having less room for furniture, but considering a significant portion of your life is spent in bed, it’s well worth sparing the room.
Create White Noise
Contrary to some assumptions, a bit of noise is conducive to a good night’s rest. Some people can’t sleep without a bit of white noise created by a fan, humidifier, television, etc. Moreover, if your partner breathes heavy or snores while they sleep, it’s going to disturb your opportunity to get some shuteye. Creating noise will drown out the sounds they are creating so you can concentrate on falling asleep.
Sturdy the Frame
If you purchase a large bed but still disturbed by the movements of your partner, you may need to fix or upgrade your bedframe. An unstable frame will make minor body adjustments seem larger and more bothersome. Another option is placing your mattress directly on the floor, which helps with stability yet not aesthetically acceptable to some. Maybe you don’t need to invest in a new frame but need to tighten a few screws on your present one. Give it a try; it could make a huge difference in stability in addition to your ability to get to sleep.
Know Each Other’s Schedules
You may go to bed early at 9pm yet your partner does not get off work until after midnight, eventually getting into bed at 1am. Their schedule may influence your ability to sleep soundly through the night. However, the way in which your partner comes home and gets into bed can change. For example, they can get undressed in another room or wait until the morning to take a shower versus creating more noise upon their nighttime arrival.
Try an Air Bed
No, it’s not a traditional blow-up mattress. Air beds are made with vulcanized air bladders, which provide plenty of comfort and flexibility. Whether you prefer a cushy or firm mattress, you can modify the amount of air in the bed to suit your preference. Moreover, particular air beds maintain shape and don’t bow at the ends after use. Browse Night Air Beds for more information.
Separate the Blankets
It seems too simple to be a solution but it works. If the other person tosses and turns, it may not be their movement as much as their jostling of the covers and blankets that bother you, causing you to wake. Buy separate blankets so each sleeper can do as they wish with their respective covers. That way, no one is “stealing” the other’s cover or causing them to awake due to a chill. If you don’t like the look of separate blankets, dress the bed with one and reserve a second cover for when you’re actually getting to bed.
Create a Pillow Barrier
Some people are mobile sleepers, rolling over too much to the other person’s side of the bed and creating a nuisance in effect. Slow their roll or completely stop it by creating a pillow barrier down the center of the bed. Most people purchase a number of throw pillows to place on their bed for show and then throw them to the side while they sleep. Now you’ll have a functional reason to buy a number of throw pillows.
Turn Off the TV and Lights
One person may be in the habit of falling asleep to the television while another may leave a bedside lamp on so they can read before bed. Both actions may cause a nuisance to the other sleeper. Try to break bedside habits that disturb your partner or find an alternative. For example, rather than in bed, watch television in the family room until you feel sleepy.. Rather than in bed, read in the kitchen or another room.
You’re together for better or worse sleep. Try the above solutions to sleep better and avoid clashing throughout the night.
Ann Losey is a sleep psychologist who helps treat people who have sleep disorders whether because of a medical reason, stress or something else. She writes to raise awareness on the subject, and to offer help and tips for sufferers both at her clinic and a wider online audience.
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